Electrical SystemAdd-On Electrical EquipmentNotice: Do not add anything electrical to yourvehicle unless you check with your dealer/retailerfirst. Some electrical equipment can damageyour vehicle and the damage would not be coveredby your warranty. Some add-on electrical equipmentcan keep other components from working as theyshould.Add-on equipment can drain your vehicle’s battery,even if your vehicle is not operating.Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting toadd anything electrical to your vehicle, see ServicingYour Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-90.Windshield Wiper FusesThe windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuitbreaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavysnow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools.If the overload is caused by some electrical problem,have it fixed.Power Windows and OtherPower OptionsCircuit breakers protect the power windows and otherpower accessories. If the current load is too heavy,the circuit breaker opens and then closes after a cooldown period, protecting the circuit until the problemis fixed or goes away.Fuses and Circuit BreakersThe wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected fromshort circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakersand fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces thechance of fires caused by electrical problems.Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If theband is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure youreplace a bad fuse with a new one of the identicalsize and rating.If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t havea spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the sameamperage. Just pick some feature of your vehiclethat you can get along without – like the radio orcigarette lighter – and use its fuse, if it is the correctamperage. Replace it as soon as you can.5-108
